Rogers-Sanchez Targeted for Titan FC 20 on Sept. 23

Brett Rogers will return on Sept. 23. | Photo: Dave Mandel

The fighter announced on Friday's edition of “Inside MMA” on HDNet that he will square off with UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez at Titan Fighting Championship 20.

“It would be a mistake for him to try to stand with me,” said Rogers. “But at the same time, I hope he does, because that's what the fans like.”

Going down Sept. 24 from historic Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., TFC 20 is also expected to feature former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner and dynamic bantamweight prospect Anthony Gutierrez locking horns with Alonzo Martinez and Laramie Shaffer, respectively. The event airs live on HDNet.

After beginning his career a perfect 10-0, culminating with a devastating first-round knockout of former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski, Rogers has lost three of his last four fights. After suffering a pair of knockouts to Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem, “The Grim” rebounded with a unanimous decision win over journeyman Ruben Villareal this past October.

The 30-year-old’s victory would be short-lived, however, as he was bounced from the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix by former UFC king Josh Barnett on June 18. Only 11 days later, Rogers was reportedly accused by police of assaulting his wife at their home in the Minneapolis suburb of Apple Valley. The fighter was released by Strikeforce shortly after his arrest, and his trial is set for Sept. 13 in Dakota County District Court. According to the “Inside MMA” vignette, Rogers' wife is not expected to testify against her husband.

“I was told not to go into details [about the case],” Rogers said, accompanied by his wife. “The papers can write whatever, but it's more of a misunderstanding when I look at it. We're still going through the legal process. [There has] never [been a history of violence between us]. Our records are clean. I'm confident things are going to be dropped and we can move forward.”